Elizabeth Butler

Not the same as Elizabeth Bigelow

Disputed Origins

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Unknown-391957

The commonly found statement that she was Elizabeth Bigelow is not accepted.

In 1852, Hinman in his "Early Puritan Settlers of Connecticut" stated that the wife of Richard Butler was named Elizabeth Bigelow.[1] This is a name and an identification which has been repeated many times including in recent sources. All subsequent sources apparently rely ultimately on the simple statement by Hinman as none provide any further evidence or discussion. Based solely on a common name, she is often said to be a sister or close relative of John Bigelow of Watertown. However, no actual supporting evidence has ever been found to support the statement that her LNAB is Bigelow, or that she had any relationship to John Bigelow. When Donald Lines Jacobus examined the problem and wrote on Richard Butler, he stated “We have found nothing to substantiate that she was a Bigelow.”[2] Anderson in his biography of Richard Butler concurred and stated her name is Elizabeth ______.[3] Wikitree is following the conclusions of Jacobus and Anderson unless some primary evidence can be found to show that Elizabeth’s LNAB was or even might possibly be Bigelow.

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Family

Birth: unknown Death: Sep. 11, 1691 Hartford Hartford County Connecticut, USA

Richard Butler married (2) by 1641, Elizabeth _____, who died at Hartford 11 September 1691 (inventory). There is no documentary proof of her maiden name.

They had five children: Samuel, Nathaniel, Joseph, Daniel, Elizabeth Olmsted, & Hannah Green. Source: Anderson's Great Migration Study Project.

Children of Richard Butler and Elizabeth Unknown:

1. Deacon Samuel b. about 1641 at Hartford, d. December 31, 1692 at Wethersfield m. by 1665 to Elizabeth Olmsted[7][8]
2. Nathaniel b. about 1642, d. Feb. 9, 1697 at Wethersfield, m. Sarah Green[9]
3. Joseph b. about 1646 at Wethersfield, d. December 10, 1732 at Wethersfield, m. 1) by November 14, 1676 Mary Goodrich;[10] m. 2) after September 6, 1705 to Mary Bushnell, widow of William Miller. 8 children.[11]
4. Daniel b. about 1651 at Wethersfield, d. March 28, 1692, m. by 1680 to Mabel Olmstead[12]
5. Elizabeth b. about 1654, m. about 1674 to Joseph Olmstead[13]
6. Hannah b. about 1656, m. by April 2, 1677 to Samuel Green[14]

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According to Sandy Butler, Church records show Date of birth 1614. She has Elizabeth traced back to Ollerton Hall, Cheshire, England.

Find A Grave contributor hgirdley adds her maiden name of Elizabeth Bigelow [per Sons of the American Revolution membership applications] born in 1614. Find A Grave contributor Mary Gilmore adds: Richard Butler - was born about 1615 and died on 6 Aug 1684 in Hartford, CT . He was the son of Steven Butler Richard married Elizabeth Bigelow. Elizabeth was born about 1606. She was the daughter of Randall Bigelow and Mrs. Jane Baguley. She died on 11 Sep 1691 in Hartford, CT . Elizabeth - was the second wife of Richard Butler. Richard - came from Braintree, Essex Co., England in 1633 to Cambridge, MA; 1636 to Hartford, CT; name is on founder's monument in Hartford,CT; made freeman 14 May 1634; in 1635 owned 2 acres at NE corner of Main & Dana Sts. in Cambridge, MA; in 1639 moved to Hartford, CT and became an original proprietor - house lot on corner of road to south meadow and road to the mill; in 1659-60, juror, deacon of First Church and deputy to General Court; made will in 1677 naming wife and 8 children; estate totalled 564 15 00 (pounds)

Family links:

Spouse:

 Richard Butler (1610 - 1684)*

Children:

 Joseph Butler (1648 - 1732)*

*Calculated relationship

Burial: Unknown

Created by: Linda Mac Record added: Apr 17, 2009 Find A Grave Memorial# 35980642

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Comments

http://www.ryanwadleigh.com/butler.html

Richard was married to Elizabeth (surname probably Bigelow) in about 1635, perhaps in England or in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She was born circa 1614 in England and died on September 11, 1691 in Hartford, Hartford Co., Connecticut 2. (Many sources indicate that Elizabeth died on February 26, 1656/7 1, yet this is impossible.)
Possible Father: Randall Bigelow/Baguley Possible Mother: Jane There is no proof of Elizabeth's parentage, but it is likely that she was a close relative of John Bigelow/Biglo of Watertown, Massachusetts. The inference that she was his sister (and thus daughter of Randall and Jane) is simply the best educated guess.

Elizabeth's estate was probated on December 3, 1691, in which she specifically named her children as Nathaniel, Joseph, Daniel, Samuel and Elizabeth. Another portion of the estate also mentions her child Abigail Butler (???). Many researchers have interpreted this record to mean that since Elizabeth only mentions that the above five children were her own, that Richard Butler's other known children (Mary, Hannah, and Thomas) must have been his children by an earlier marriage. This is ridiculous reasoning. The simple reality that was overlooked is that Mary, Hannah and Thomas all died before 1691, when Elizabeth's probate was recorded. No wonder she didn't name her children that were already dead. Additionally, Richard Butler's will of 1677 clearly specifies that his wife Elizabeth was the mother of his daughter Mary (of course, this doesn't prove she wasn't her stepmother, but it is too much to be overlooked).

2nd wife of Richard Butler, died Hartford, CT